Monday, July 16, 2007

THE MARIPOSA AWARDS

In recognition of the many positive contributions being made to Latino literature by publishers and writers worldwide, Latino Literacy Now, created the Latino Book Awards in 1999. Due to the dramatic increase in recent years in nominations of literary works from Mexico, Central and South America and Spain, the title of the awards was changed to the International Latino Book Awards in 2006. The awards were presented during BookExpo America on May 31, 2007, at the Javits Center in New York City. These awards honor literary excellence in a variety of categories. Latino Literacy Now is a non-profit organization that supports and promotes literacy and literary excellence within the Latino community.

We've noted some of the recent winners but you can see a complete list here.

These awards include the Mariposa Award for Best First Book. In the category of Best First Book (English), the first place winner was The Heiress of Water (Rayo/HarperCollins) by Sandra Rodriguez Barron (who was the subject of a La Bloga spotlight last year).

The second place winner was Sister Chicas (New American Library), by Lisa Alvarado (of La Bloga!), Ann Hagman Cardinal and Jane Alberdeston Coralin.

Tuesday, August 28, 7 p.m. at BP Hall in Walt Disney Concert Hall: The brilliant writer (The New Yorker and The New York Review of Books) and MacArthur “Genius Award” recipient Alma Guillermoprieto visits Zócalo to explore the importance of music and song in transmitting the spirit of Mexicanness. In a fascinating multimedia lecture, Guillermoprieto uses contemporary Mexican music to illuminate evolving notions of Mexican national identity. By exploring iconic lyrics and film clips that have been considered typically Mexican -- in Mexico and abroad -- Guillermoprieto examines the very idea of mexicanidad. To Reserve a Free Seat at BP Hall, Click Here.

◙ Book Signing: Ricardo Lira Acuña was born in Nogales, Arizona, and educated at Stanford and Columbia University. Acuña has numerous credits as a freelance writer, amongst them, The Hollywood Reporter. Currently, he is a teacher in the Los Angeles school system and was featured in a Los Angeles Times story detailing his career transition. Acuña will be at Metropolis Books to sign his poetry collection, Under the Influence, which is also illustrated with his own photography.

WHEN: Saturday, August 18th (4:00 to 6:00 p.m.)WHERE: Metropolis Books, 440 S. Main Street, Los Angeles 90013; 213.612.0174. Located on Main Street, between 4th and 5th streets, in the Historic Core District of Downtown Los Angeles.

◙ In yesterday's El Paso Times, Rigoberto González reviews a poetry collection, Teeth (Curbstone Press) by Aracelis Girmay. He calls it a “powerful debut” and states that “Girmay reaches out to her various cultural lineages (Eritrean, Puerto Rican and African American) and weaves them into a distinct voice, political and beautiful as ‘bullets of ivory.’"